Claes w



(No Model.)

C. W..BOMAN.

LEAD 0R GRAYON HOLDER.

Patented NOV. 28, 1882.

JJV VEJVTOR Claes Womaz N. PETERS. Plam-Lnhegmpnw. wnhingwn. n. C.

v of this general type in which the nozzle or NrrEn STATES PATENT Ericao OLAEs w. ROMAN, OE

NEW YORK, n.

DOEEEE, OE SAME PLACE.

Y., AssieNoE 'ro JOSEPH EEOKEN- LEAD OR CRAYON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,355, dated November 28, 1882,

Application tiled June 23, 1882. -(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, CLAES W. ROMAN, of the city, county, and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 5 in Lead or Crayon Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that kind of lead and crayon holders, in which a lead-containing tube, provided at its front end with clampio ing-jaws, is capable of rotary movement with reference to a clamping tip or nozzle, whereby the jaws are opened or closed in accordance with the direction of rotation, and it has particular reference to a lead or crayon holder tip and the lead-containing tube are combined with a sheath or case constituting the handle ot the holder, in such manner that while the lead-tube is capable of rotary movement with zo reference to the tip or nozzle the latter will be incapable of rotary movement with respect to the case, and both tip and lead-tube will he capable ot' longitudinal movement bodily and together with reference to the case, so that the point of the pencil can be withdrawn within or projected from the case, as desired.

The"invention consists in combining said' devices with a spring which tends to move the lead-tube and tip in a direction opposite to 3o that in which they 'are bodily moved by hand with reference to the case, and a latching or retaining device for holding said parts in position against the stress of the spring.

The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a longitudinal central section, partly in elevation of' a holder embodying my 4o invention, the parts being represented in the position which they assume when the tip or point of the pencil is retracted Within the sheath. Fig. 2 is a like section, partlyin elevation of the same, representing the parts in the position which they assume when the tip or point of the pencil is projected from the sheath. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the iront portion ofthe holder in Fig. 2, with the jaws and tip occupying the relative position 5o which they assume when the lead is released from the grasp of the jaws. Fig. 4is a section on line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line y y, Fig. 2.

`A is the sheath or case. G is the tip or nozzle.

The lead-tube terminates at its front end in spring clamping or graspingjaws b, of usual or suitable construction, which normally stand apart oropen. The tip or nozzle C incloses the front portion of the tube, and its contracted 6o front end is the instrumentality by which the jawsbarecausedtoclose. Thejawsbare moved to and from the contracted end of the tip by partly rotating the lead-tube with reference to the tip, the means for causing the requisite longitudinal movement at this timeot'the one relatively to the other being an internal spiral rib or screw-thread, c, in the tip, which is engaged by a notch, d, on the lead-tube.

"When the tube is rotated in one direction its 7o jaws will be moved toward the contracted end of the tip, and will thus be caused to close on the lead an, as indicated in Fig. 1. When it is revolved in the opposite direction its jaws will be carried far enough away from the contracted end of the tip to permit them to expand and release the lead, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Surrounding the tip and lead-tube is the sheath or case A, which serves as the handle, and also acts as a point-protecting sleeve as 8o well. In order to hold the tip so that it will not rotate with the lead-tube, but will at the same time be free to slide longitudinally in the case, various expediente may be employed. That used in the present instance consists in giving the tip, for a portion of itslcngth, a polygonal shape in cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 2 at C', and making that portion A of the sheath through which the part O moves of a corresponding shape, as shown in Fig. 4. 9o The tip is thus free to slide back and forth in the sheath, but cannot revolve independently thereof. Y

To provide a convenient means for rotating the tube B, I fasten to its upper end a cap, B', 95 which projects through the rear end ot' the sheath. By drawing on the cap, the tube and tip can be pulled bodily and together far enough to bring the point of the pencil within the sheath, as shown in Fig. l. By pushing roo on the cap the tube and tip will be moved together in the opposite direction far enough to B is the lead-tube.

cause the point of the pencil to protrude the necessary distance from the front end of the sheath.

In order to move the parts to the position shown in Fig. l, I make use of a retracting spiral spring, D, interposed between a Washer or disk, c, fast to the sheath, and an annulus, d, on the lead-tube, the rearward movement of the tube being limited by a tlauge,f, thereon, in front of the liked washer or disk e.

To retain the parts in the position to which they are pushed, as in Fig. 2, against the stress 0f the retracting device, Iemploy a suitable latch or retaining device, which device, in the special structure shown in the drawings, must be connected to or putin operative relation with the lead-tube in such manner as not to interfere with the rotary movement of the latter. To this end I form the latch of a longitudinal metallic spring-strip, g, carrying a thumb-button, g', (which projects through a hole in the side of the case,) and secured to the interior ot the sheath in some convenient Wayin this instance by rings g2, which are secured to or formed on its ends, and are tted Within and held by suitable means to the sheath. At the point on the spring-strip where the th um b-button is located is a metal ring, h,which encircles the lead-tube. This forms one portion of the latch or retainer proper. The other portion is formed by a cylindrical enlargement, t, on the lead-tube, so placed that when the lead-tube is pushed forward to the position shown in Fig. 2, the retaining ring or clasp h Will stand just behind it, resting against the shoulder h', formed at the junction of the enlargement t' and the lead-tube. The claspring is of such size and proportions that normally the spring-strip g, to Whichit is attached, will hold it in contact with the lead-tube, so

that when the lead-tube is pushed forward the proper distance the retaining-ring will automatically snap or spring into place behind the shoulder h', and thus hold the parts in position against the stress ofthe retreating-spring. When the thumb -button is depressed far ,enough to permit the retainin g-rin g h to clear the enlargement t', the springl) at once throws back the lead-tube and tip to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the spring retaining-ring it encircles the cylindrical enlargement t'. It Willbe seen that this locking or latching mechanism, while acting to hold the parts in place against the stress ot' the spring D, does not at any time interfere with the rotary movement of the lead-tube requisite to open and close the lead-grasping jaws.

The spring-strip g, together with its retaining-ring h and 'rings g2, can be cut and formed in one piece from a strip of light spring-metal, if desired.

Having described my improvement, .what I claim as new, and of my invention, is

The combination of the point -protecting sheath, the tip or nozzle longitudinally movable therein, the lead-tube provided with clamping-jaws and connected with the tip, so that, while capable of independent rotary movement for the purpose of opening or closing the lead-clampingjatvs, the two can slide bodily and together lengthlvise ofthe sheath,

the retracting-spring and spring latching or retaining mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ot June, A. D. 1882. CLAES W. BOMAN. Witnesses:

G. S. BRAISTED, J 0E W. SWAINE. 

